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17. Too Low for Zero (1983) Album Review
10 Plays4 days ago
DISCLAIMER: We got all excited one night, decided to record a pod, ended up doing it in Anthony's kitchen and consequently there's a lot of echoes and hisses. We still think it's a great show, but if you have certain sensitivities or preferences, this one might not be for you. This was a one-off, so do check any of our other higher-quality recordings ;)
Seventeen episodes in and Dominic & Anthony are still standing in their mission to find Elton's best studio album. As they examine his 1983 solo studio album, will 2V40 be heralded like a saint, or treated like a whipping boy?
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Welcome to Elton v Elton: The Album Battle! This is the podcast where two pals (Anthony & Dominic) & Elton fans rage over which of Elton's albums we think is the best. We'll be keeping score as we go, as we delve into each of Elton's solo studio albums, discussing the tracks individually, the musicians involved, the album art, random trivia, cover versions & anything else in between!
We'd love to hear from you with your ratings, opinions and any other insights into Elton's work you have. Drop us an email via eltonveltonpod@gmail.com
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Thanks go to everyone involved in bringing Elton's work to the bigger stage, James Cook (http://www.jamescookcomedian.com/) & Paul Savage (https://www.instagram.com/savagecomics_/) who inspired the format of this show and Zapsplat.com for the SFX. Research for the show was done using songfacts.com, , eltonchords.com, https://www.eltonography.com/ and Elton’s autobiography 'Me'.
You can find Dominic on https://www.facebook.com/dominicberry/ and on his poetry website https://dominicberry.net/
You can find Anthony on two other podcasts: Enough of the Falafel (featuring the Vegan Week & Vegan Talk shows) and The Brambling Along Podcast
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Until next time it’s goodbye from Captain Dom-tastic & the Brown Dirt Ant-boy!
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Transcript
Podcast Introduction and Format
00:00:00
Speaker
It is the 31st of May, 1983. Elton John's early 80s albums maybe haven't gone down too well.
00:00:10
Speaker
So much so that he's saying he's too low for zero. But is this the turning point? I am Dominic. And I'm Anthony. And you are listening to Elton vs Elton, the Album Battle.
00:00:30
Speaker
Thank you.
00:00:42
Speaker
Welcome everyone, this is episode 17 of Elton vs Elton Album Battle where two pals, me and Dominic, who love the music of Elton John, we rage over which of his albums we love the best. So obviously, big props to everyone involved in bringing Elton's music to the masses as well as James Cook and Paul Savage for the inspiration for our show's format. If you want to hear a bit more about the show, why we're doing it, a bit more about me and Dominic, we've got a trailer a trailer. episode and we've got all previous 16 episodes too to listen to wherever you get your podcast
First Co-Recording Experience and Album Discussion
00:01:18
Speaker
from.
00:01:18
Speaker
We have indeed and something that differentiates this recording from the previous 16 is this is the first one where Anthony and I are in the same room. Oh my goodness. Yeah. It's been exciting and a tiny bit strange. I like I feel feel very close to you. Yeah. When we were talking about the possibility of, ah you know, having one episode just when I happened to be over visiting Anthony, I said this album would be a good one because it's it's ah a good album. Spoilers, we like this album. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And...
00:01:57
Speaker
It's an album I've got loads say about. It felt like a nice, easy one. And a significant album to Elton's career, so a great one ah for it to sound a bit different.
Surprise Drink and Trivia Teaser
00:02:07
Speaker
Yeah, absolutely. And I've got a special treat that Dominic doesn't know anything about oh here. Oh, my word. I saw it a few months ago, and I thought, the next time we're in the same place, we need to share this. so Oh, my word. After he's standing up, he's walking over to the cupboard, and he's got... What is...
00:02:27
Speaker
Elton John. What? What? belong to free Zero alcohol. And Dominic, importantly, vegan friendly. I need a photograph. yeah There's going to be a click on on this. like Let me take a photo. This is beautiful.
00:02:44
Speaker
Ready, Ann? Give us a smile. Hey. Hey.
00:02:49
Speaker
Lovely. There are. Available at all good retailers. We're not being sponsored here. However. all look. It's got a nice little star on the top. This is fantastic. Like Kiki D. Star.
00:03:01
Speaker
That's what they call you. The biggest issue here is in our house, we don't actually really have glasses for such things. say Oh, my word. There's a couple of mugs. It's got a proper You're going to hear the pop. Would you like to the honors? No, no, no. You go for it. you sure? Yeah, yeah. I should do it out the window, really. Oh, I don't know. i don't know. this is a scary time. Is it? Go on. You've got it. You've got it.
00:03:24
Speaker
Oh, um that is beautiful. That is beautiful. Let's do some ASMR by the mic.
00:03:39
Speaker
Oh, thank you so much. Brilliant. Brilliant. Love it Love it. Cheers. Happy podcasting, Dominic. Happy podcasting.
00:03:51
Speaker
Well, everyone, before we go any further with our alcohol-free indulgence... It's very nice. Let me have sip. I've not tried it yet. Very grapey. A lot of... um Oh, that's gorgeous. A lot of alcohol-free wine and stuff. doesn't Doesn't really taste so much. but It's fabulous. Thank you very much, Anthony.
Trivia Answer and Album Scoring System
00:04:10
Speaker
Anthony asks a trivia teaser question every episode, and i usually don't know the answers, and i don't know the answer this time. Anthony asked this.
00:04:23
Speaker
Tim Rice wrote the lyrics for Legal Boys. When was the next time he would collaborate with Elton? So I'm aware that it's before The Lion King, I don't know when.
00:04:37
Speaker
So ah it's a bit of a trick question, Dominic, because the answer is The Lion King. What? know, I sold you. You did? I did bring you up like a kipper.
00:04:47
Speaker
Ha!
00:04:49
Speaker
So yeah, Legal Boys was on the previous album that we covered, Jump Up, which was released in April 1982. Tim Rice was one of the lyricists. that That was the only track that he wrote the lyrics for. And I sort of got to thinking, oh, maybe he's collaborating with Elton Lotz between 1982 and, when was it, 93, 94, Lion King? No, that was that was the next one that made an album. I mean, maybe they wrote stuff together and it didn't it didn't make an album. But yeah, that was Jump Up, which we covered in episode 16. It reached number 13 the UK, number 17 in the US.
00:05:27
Speaker
Hey Hey Johnny, Empty Garden was on there, as well as Dominic's favourite, Blue Eyes. So if for any reason this is your first time listening, you'll know that I scored, we score all the tracks out ten, and I gave Blue Eyes zero. i You know, my first CD of Elton's was the double CD, Very Best Of. I hate the track Blue Eyes. Oh, Anthony knew since then my wonderful boyfriend,
00:05:53
Speaker
I was looking at his music collection and he's significantly ah chosen Blue Eyes because I've
1983 Events and Elton John's Personal Life
00:06:02
Speaker
got blue eyes. And and he said, not knowing, not knowing how I vented and raged about. He was like, oh, this is a lovely song and I've got it for you. And he likes it so much. He already owns it on the Diamonds compilation and yet went and downloaded the Jump Up.
00:06:20
Speaker
version which is identical to my but I was like oh I felt really bad right I still I still should yeah I still score it zero yeah you can't escape it you can't escape it um as Dominic said we do score each of the albums each of the tracks and various other elements as well you might be able to see on the album art sorry on the the picture that we've got for this episode, what our current top 10 and things like that are. um So our last episode jump up, we gave it 51.25%, which put it in thirteenth place currently out of not particularly good. um
00:07:03
Speaker
The previous album, The Fox, was in at number four. We rated that very highly. um Currently top is Captain Fantastic. ah Number two, Don't Shoot Me, I'm Only the Piano Player. Number three, Tumbleweed Connection. So let me tell you something, Anthony. As...
00:07:21
Speaker
another difference about this evening's recording. I usually choose my scores out of 10 and I haven't. I haven't. I'm going to get all merry on the alcohol-free Elton John drink. I don't know. I, I, well, we'll get onto that. We'll get onto because we talk about our relationship to the album and I've got a specific relationship to this album. But let's look at the world in, in general.
00:07:52
Speaker
We always talk about the global context in which the album was made and quite lot happened in 1983. I was three years old. Seatbelts became mandatory for drivers and front seat passengers in the UK. Michael Jackson's thriller,
00:08:09
Speaker
was number one in the US Billboard charts, remained so for 37 weeks. amazing ah 14 Mile Human Chain was created by Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament protesters in Britain. ah May the 25th, Return of the Jedi was released.
00:08:31
Speaker
So when
Recording and Chart Performance of 'Too Low for Zero'
00:08:32
Speaker
this album came out, the UK number one was the Sting with every breath you take. almost said the police, but that's Sting Solo one, isn't it? Every breath you take, or is it the police? I don't know. i I thought it was the police, but I'm reading the running order and it says Sting, but I'm sure it's the police. The US number one was Flashdance, What a Feeling by Irene Cara. Now, Elton John's got a fair few songs critiquing the music industry and if you want a little bit of extracurricular work read about how terribly irene carr a fantastic talent fantastic artist was treated by the industry there's a sobering tale flash dance what feeling is an awesome song absolutely brilliant
00:09:19
Speaker
Yeah, completely agree. Completely agree. So that's the global context. We also tend to cover what's going on in Elton's life at the time, certainly in terms of what's been documented in his autobiography or other sources. um It was around about this time that he was in a relationship with Gary Clark. It was a discreet private relationship. It wasn't necessarily known ah by every man and his dog. um And Elton cites that Gary supported him through these quite difficult years in his in his personal life. um Gary Clark is Australian and he wrote a book in 1995 called Elton, My Elton. and So not very private or discreet, where he talks about their relationship, Elton's struggles with addiction, um as well as Elton's subsequent marriage,
00:10:12
Speaker
to somebody else. I won't say anything more about that because we'll cover that more probably in the next episode. um As a Watford Football Club fan myself, I'm delighted to say that this was their best season ever to date um and Elton was the chairman at this time. um They came second in the first division, which was at the time the top league in England. So hooray for Watford Football Club and Elton be the chairman. And um If you know anything about Elton's personal life or his public persona, very often his hairline or his hair choices or things like that were a ah fascination for the media, particularly in the 80s. And it was around this time in 1983, he experienced significant hair loss and began undergoing extensive hair plug surgery.
00:11:03
Speaker
So let's start talking a bit more about the album itself, Dominic. um
Band Reunion and Collaborations
00:11:08
Speaker
Very often there's big long lists of everyone that is involved. We don't have that on this album particularly.
00:11:15
Speaker
No, not at all. It's mostly the Elton John band who, as well as this being a notable album for being the first one in a long time where Bernie Taupin is the only lyricist as opposed to one of many lyricists, this is also the coming back together of Dee Murray, Nigel Olsen and Davy Johnson, who plays a whole load of guitar. We do have a tiny bit of Ray Cooper on the opening track, which has also got Kiki Dee on backing vocals. I love Kiki Dee, but similar to Dusty Springfield on the Bitches Back, I'd say that, you know, you can't really hear her contribution you can hear stevie wonder playing harmonica on i guess that's why they call it the blues and similar to his contribution on the eurythmics song there must be an angel playing with my heart the legend is that it was a one-take wonder that he just strolled into the studio and just did brilliant music and strolled out again amazing
00:12:22
Speaker
Yeah, i love it. We've also got Clive Franks producing, which regular listeners or just massive Elton fans will know that he's produced the last couple of albums, um the last couple by himself as well. There was ah an album where and he did sort of half of the tracks and was it Chris Thomas or have made the name up there? so Sounds about right. Someone beginning with C, I can't remember.
00:12:46
Speaker
And we have got, for the first time since Blue Moves in 1976, all lyrics being written by Bernie Taupin. We'll discuss whether we think Bernie did a particularly good job on that or not. um So Elton is back playing synthesizers on this album in addition to the piano. um James Newton Howard, he sort of did a string arrangement for um one of the tracks, but other than that, he's Alton was was playing the synth rather than James Newton Howard. So a bit of a change there.
Album Art and Themes
00:13:21
Speaker
Yeah, so the album was written and recorded in about two weeks, recorded in Montserrat. I think the last one was done in Montserrat too. Yes, Jump Up. um And also in Hollywood. In terms of how it did, um the highest chart position it got was in Australia, number two, and New Zealand, where it was also number two as well. Number five in Germany, number six in Norway, seven in Spain and the UK.
00:13:49
Speaker
Not so well in the US, which is obviously where Elton generally had his his earlier success in the 70s, but only number 25 this time. Well, I'm really surprised by that because the hits were hits, weren't they? Yeah, yeah. Yeah, they were. Perhaps there's just more competition in the US s at at this time. um Too Low for Zero was the eighth best-selling album across Australia in the whole of 1984. Third highest-selling album in 1983 across the whole of Australia. um And interestingly, across the whole decade of the the seventh album.
00:14:28
Speaker
it was the seventh highest selling album in Australia. So clearly a big hit down under. Yeah. More Elton John, Blonka Blonka, Anthony. Oh, please. Let's do it. yeah let's Let's toast to the success in Australia.
00:14:47
Speaker
It feels like it's a sort of old Russian drinking party. We're just toasting to anything. Toast to the barmaid. um So Dominic, you started talking about your personal relationship with this album. Tell us a bit more. So I didn't know this as a kid. We did have 1989's Sleeping With The Past. So I know that really, really well. I don't know any of Elton's 80s albums, but I feel like I've come to know this really well because the singles are so massive. and I've got a lot to say when we get on to Kiss the Bride. I really love the singles and I felt like...
00:15:29
Speaker
I wanted research this way, way before. So other albums like The Fox and 21 at 33, I've only listened to them immediately in advance of doing the recording. But this one I bought right at the start. So this album's been in my life now for a few months or on heavy rotation. Yeah. Yeah. Which is why I feel quite confident I haven't.
00:15:52
Speaker
decided my scores yet there will be some 10 out of 10s because you know that there will be and rightly so but yeah i'm I'm gonna for the first time I'm gonna choose my scores based on ive I've tweaked my scores based on our conversation but I've always had a rough idea and I i don't I don't know what I'm going to tension my baby is the same I really don't know what I'm gonna score that I really don't know We shall see. For me, I distinctly remember borrowing this CD from Luton Library when I was 17 years old. and I've described on previous episodes where whenever I went into a record shop in my teens, I'd go straight for the Elton section and and see if I could get one of his albums, pre-streaming days, of course. um And I never did see this one in a shop, but Luton Library did have this, so I'd probably play it
00:16:50
Speaker
paid a pound for the privilege of borrowing this for a week. um So it got it got some good listening. um I've never owned it. um And yeah, it's, I mean, it's, you mentioned Dominic, it's got some hits on it.
00:17:04
Speaker
um And I think that, rightly or wrongly, that will will always lend itself a bit of a, oh, oh maybe this album's decent then. if it's If it's got some hit singles on it, it must be decent. But we shall see. That doesn't speak for the album tracks, does it? um We normally start our in-depth discussions by talking about the album art.
00:17:26
Speaker
It's fair to say they
Track Analysis: 'Cold As Christmas'
00:17:28
Speaker
didn't use much ink on the ink cartridge in this one, did they? I mean, I've got really mixed feelings. On one hand, I hate it.
00:17:39
Speaker
Like, it's so minimal and it's so white, plain, basic, basic capital letters in the font.
00:17:50
Speaker
And I think it's quite, it invokes a feeling of sadness in the in me. Oh, yeah. I mean, too low for zero. It's fitting in that respect, isn't it? It is fitting. It reminds me So that's on the other hand. I think that it's appropriate because there's a lot of sad songs on this record. So I kind of think that it does match songs actually I really do like. So I've got mixed feelings.
00:18:14
Speaker
I think... It's on the, on the downside, it comes from the same school of 21 at 33, where they're trying to be clever and, you know, it's, it does say too low for zero at the very bottom, but they've got this two, number two, and then a triangle pointing downwards and then a four for four and then a circle for zero. So they're trying to be a bit clever in the same way that 21 at 33 was, this is our 21st album.
00:18:44
Speaker
and Elton's 33 or what have you. um Yeah, they'll get away with it once in my book, but yeah, it's not a favourite. think it's loads better than the 21 or 33 cover. I think that it does match something. And because the title track is such a good song, I think, and and and does, it this is a thematic album. This is a thematic album. And I said about 21 at 33, I compared it to records by Adele with ages on them. And was like, I wish this album was about middle age.
00:19:20
Speaker
And it isn't. I think the words are really all over the place on 21 at 33. And I said, if the album was just called 33, it wouldn't do a very good job of, of So that's why i think it's a nothingy title. This could be an album called 33 or however old he is, 36, 37. This could be. Because I think the words are very much about being this age. Like I'm Still Standing, Too Low for Zero, Cold as Christmas. They're there all songs sung from a person who is a certain age, which really differentiates from...
00:19:56
Speaker
Teacher, I need you. Yeah, yeah, yeah, quite. Yes, yes. It's ah it a concept album in a sense, isn't it? Yeah, in a sense. Yeah, no, true. So let's start talking about the individual trucks then.
00:20:26
Speaker
So first up, Cold As Christmas, open brackets, in the middle of the year, close brackets. ah Four minutes, 19 long, like every track on this album, written by Elton and Bernie. This was released in November 83 as the fourth single from the album. It peaked
Track Spotlight: 'I'm Still Standing'
00:20:45
Speaker
at number 33 in the UK charts. what do you What do you make of this one then, Dominic?
00:20:51
Speaker
It's a real grower. I love it. I absolutely adore it. I got the train over to Anthony's home and upon the train, I watched all four of the music videos of which I'd only seen I'm Still Standing previously. As the fourth single, it's a fairly basic video for Cold As Christmas, Elton in quite a sparkly outfit, sitting at the piano, looking directly at us.
00:21:21
Speaker
miming the words, but he does put passion into it. And I found, even though I had sat down and read the words,
00:21:34
Speaker
looking into his eyes as he said them, I really believed him. I mean, Elton famously says that he hates doing music videos. I think that his delivery in all four of the music videos is superb. By delivery, I mean, his acting, his charisma. And even though Cold As Christmas is like, well, we've got... um 25 pence left in the budget. We blew it all on I'm Still Standing. But, you know, you you already own a piano. Sit down there. And I think for what it is... couple of ice cubes. Yeah. I think it's great. The song...
00:22:10
Speaker
is really miserable and oh yeah really specific. So I'm a big fan of songs with very specific lyrics. And I think, um you know, the the the palm trees, the tropics, it's a setting that is I love it when Bernie takes us to a place that isn't what just any old person would write about. And I think that this couple, that that the detail, I mean, I'm not rich enough to move to the tropics. ah If I had a failing marriage, try and save it. by go But it's really relatable. It's interesting how some words that so outside of our own experiences can be...
00:22:56
Speaker
yeah we we we get the feeling that the melody is great really is' it's a really unusual melody and the rhythm and and everything like that the the phrasing of it as well i mean we've got the lyrics up here and in front of us and it it looks like quite regular stanzas but if if when you're listening to it you know lines come in at times that you wouldn't expect. And um and i I think sometimes it doesn't quite work for me, but more often than not, it does.
00:23:28
Speaker
it's It's not like many songs I can think of um in in the way that it's arranged musically. And yeah, the fact that it's it's so on the nose of something that's not, I say it's not glamorous. i You talked about you know, it's, it's miserable. There are some experiences that people could write about in a song that might still have a bit of glamour about them. So I don't know, getting beaten up in a fight or being in a gang or, or something like that. Like culturally that's still seen as a bit edgy and all the street kicks off of rock of the West. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, exactly. Whereas this is just like, Oh,
00:24:11
Speaker
God, like this this marriage is falling apart and they've got children. they can't even reignite it by a holiday to the Caribbean. It's always the bloody Caribbean, isn't it, with Elton? It's such high esteem as this wonderful tropical place. and think it's a bold choice for opening track and on first listen.
00:24:31
Speaker
i've never
Musical Analysis: 'Too Low for Zero' and 'Religion'
00:24:32
Speaker
heard this before i mean as you say it was the fourth single it didn't chart highly I think it's a bold choice for a single albeit the fourth one I would have maybe chosen a different song for a single but that doesn't mean it's not excellent I think I'm not even saying that I would reorder the songs as I have suggested I would with some of the other records i I've loved it more and more each listen yeah that I've given it. I really like it. I think as opening song, it sets a certain tone. I'm really glad that I'm Still Standing follows it. I think that I'm Still Standing is...
00:25:14
Speaker
also kind of arguably, I want to say arguably miserable. I mean, of course it isn't. It's joyful. It's anthemic. But the reason it's anthemic is because it's talking about all the pain, all the suffering, all the, I'm still standing as a result. So yes it it follows really well. Yes.
00:25:34
Speaker
What's interesting about I'm Still Standing, which is the second track on the album. three minutes and two seconds long, is that I think the way it's received is one of defiance and and um possibly in a sense of, I've taken my knocks, but I'm i'm still going. um Bernie says that um it was, his words are, it was a sort of kiss off to an old girlfriend. You know the sort of thing. Don't you worry about me. I'll be perfectly fine. Which, I don't about you, Dominic, but when I listen to it, I don't hear it as...
00:26:12
Speaker
a song that's about a romantic relationship. I'm not saying he's wrong. And then you, you've very correctly pointed out that in a sense, any interpretation of a, of a lyric of of some poetry is correct because that's what it,
00:26:28
Speaker
That's what it feels like to hear. some words lend themselves to a more broad meaning. Now, I'm with you on this, but I think it could be about a relationship, but I've always thought of it as being a wider topic about life in general. yeah You know, life, all these things have gone wrong for me, and yet I am still here. What's interesting about this song, just speaking in the context 2026, and it seems to be What Elton is known for amongst kids aged between 10 and 18 that I know, like just professionally, ah i I work with younger people. And if ever I mention Elton John, i mean, i've got to say it doesn't come up very often, but if ever I do,
00:27:19
Speaker
It's happened on three separate occasions where someone started singing I'm Still Standing, um which is interesting for the for the whole catalogue that he's got. I wouldn't generally say it's his best known song, but then there must be something about it. ma me maybe there aren't songs like it in that sort of defiant standing up thing. Maybe it's one of these things that's used a lot in um TikTok videos or or things like this. I'm sounding really old saying these things. It's interesting that of all his catalogue, that's what younger folk of I don't know. i'd say that there's quite I'd say that it's not a million miles away from Gloria Gaynor, I Will Survive, or Share, Do You Believe in Life After Love. You know, it's...
00:28:03
Speaker
Yes, I think both of those are very clearly directed at the ex, at the ex, whereas I'm still standing. i mean, i don't think it's, he would mind me saying it, but um my dad had a very successful career and in his later career, he he did lose his job. He was made redundant. And when he got his next job, he rang me up and had this playing on the car stereo. you know And I don't think that was directed at his previous class, he let him go. It was like, yeah, I'm back in town. You know, it's, it's fantastic. I mean, it's, um, it's done very well commercially. Peaked at number one in Canada and Switzerland, number four in the UK, number 12 in the US. It was the lead single from this album in North America.
00:28:51
Speaker
It was the second single in the UK. And phenomenally used in the Rocketman movie. It's the last song and you know they recreate the music video and it's so powerful. Interestingly they kind of make out in the movie that what it's about is getting over drugs and being teetotal whereas in real life Elton John was still very much in the drugs world when this was recorded. It's not the case at all that he's Because that's the implication of the movie, that I'm sober, I'm here, I'm bad, like... Yeah, yeah. yes Yes, it's almost the antithesis of that in this time in his life, in that you could read it as, a despite doing this to myself, I'm still standing. I mean, the video's quite iconic, isn't it? um
00:29:42
Speaker
Shot in Cannes and Nice, on the south coast of France. A fun fact I found was... some Bruno Tognoli, judge on Strictly Come Dancing in in the UK, appears as one of the dancers in the video. What a fact that is. But um yeah, but very...
00:30:04
Speaker
arguably the most well-known Elton video, we we could argue, um due to be shot over the course of two days, but a camera full of the first day's film was ruined um when somebody fell into the sea with it, so it had to be filmed again on another day.
00:30:21
Speaker
what What would your ah synopsis of the video be, Dominic? It's quite... camp and big musical theatre, huge ensemble, dancing, Elton's very gregarious in it. and They're all in old bathing suits, aren't they? 1950s style swimwear. And it's really fun. Really, really great. We've got a water tune. was going say, we've not really said what we think about it. Stunning. Yeah.
00:30:55
Speaker
Yeah, it's it's hard to fault really, is it? I suppose if somebody doesn't like slap bass, I suppose that the the start of it is is is quite bassy, isn't it? But I mean, that would be picking it. So it's a banger. We're always talking about Bernie's amazing and sometimes not amazing lyrics.
00:31:14
Speaker
But I've said before, a lot of Elton songs have got really catchy oohs and wah-wahs. And, you know, I've talked about how on The Very Best of Elton John, when we got
Standout Track and Music Video
00:31:29
Speaker
onto...
00:31:31
Speaker
ah I don't want to go on with you like that. I kind of felt that the woes weren't as good as something like Teacher, I Need You. The yeah, yeah, yeah's on this. epi pick Epic, they? Epic. Like Elton is good at a good yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah. I mean, that's it's the most iconic part of the track, I would say. Yeah. Fantastic. And great um guitar solo from Davey Johnson in the middle. yeah um final little factoid from me is that following elton's 2023 glastonbury set the song re-entered the uk singles chart number 34 and indeed over the course of the whole of 2023 it was the 97th best-selling single um covered by loads of people to be honest i think they're Pretty much all mediocre. The only one I could find that was a bit different and worth listening to was Boris Harisanov, who does a metal version. And and if you like Glee, they they do a version of it. You know, this Elton John Zero alcohol, or Blanc de Blanc, has gone right through me, okay? It's a great answer to me. Well, it will do that. Yeah, yeah, yeah. You can leave my declaration. of it on the
00:32:51
Speaker
it's it's one that that That sound isn't dumb going to the toilet. We've unpaused. We've unpaused. It's a good job it's not alcoholic. I do feel quite merry on it, which which maybe you need on an album with so many melancholic things. So I think, because I'm always trying to make everything into a concept album, I think that... um Cold as Christmas and I'm Still Standing could be, like, the the couple. like did You know, maybe one sung by one person and then yeah the other member sings the other. And maybe we're back to partner number one for... Oh, yeah.
00:33:32
Speaker
Yeah, yeah. I mean, it's it's definitely more of the ilk Cold as Christmas rather than I'm Still Standing. Five minutes 46...
00:33:42
Speaker
Oh, yeah, it's it's not a happy one, is it? it's It's got a real nice sound to this one, I would say, but quite quite um evocative, echoey sound that Elton's singing in, and he's got a slightly, I'd say a slightly different tone, but actually...
00:34:01
Speaker
It's quite similar to Cold As Christmas in terms of the phrasing and the way that he's, he's singing things. It's, it's almost conversational, isn't it?
00:34:13
Speaker
As opposed to like a melodic way, you know, if you're singing, a la la um lalo tunen he's not doing that in either track Cold As Christmas or this one too late for zero.
00:34:25
Speaker
um And it's, I mean, as the as the length of the track tells you. Like, it's it does go on a bit. um But I don't know. It it gives a it gives a ah strong feeling. I mean, too low for zero is right, isn't it? It's...
00:34:42
Speaker
<unk> some quite haunting, I would say. I adore it. I think that it's brilliant that after the single Nobody Wins was not a huge hit, that he didn't completely abandon the sound that was so popular of its time. And you could argue it's a, and I think this is a very 80s sound. I think it's a bit bit Gary Newman-esque. I think. Yeah, completely agree. And the words,
00:35:12
Speaker
Again, the the misery isn't necessarily a romantic misery. It's kind of like, it's the it's the polar opposite to why I'm still standing, is it? It's like, I'm not standing at all. Like, I'm definitely not standing. I'm knocked over. I'm down for the count. i'm doing terribly at everything, you know, listing all kinds of misfortunes and unhappiness. And yeah, I love it. I think it really is a good match of words and sound. Yeah, it's it's very descriptive without being ridiculously flowery and lengthy and taking five lines to describe something. It's it's really concise. Um,
00:35:57
Speaker
There's one bit I was thinking, I wonder what that means. So last verse, cutting out cups of coffee, switching off the late night news, putting the cat out two hours early.
00:36:09
Speaker
It isn't any use. What does that mean? but and what What's that? Cats can be a disturbance if you ah let them feel that they rule the roost. So I guess...
00:36:23
Speaker
making sure the cat isn't gonna walk all over you or meow, pest you for food. It's getting rid of the cat so that you've got that calming down time, hoping. As it goes on to say, ah I'm too low for zero, insomnia attacks, watching flies with my eyes till sunrise. It's daylight when I hit the sack. A state to which I very strongly connect. I'm someone who doesn't find sleep easy. So yeah.
00:36:50
Speaker
I mean, when you when you look at the lyrics, by themselves when Bernie's writing those there's all sorts of different directions that Elton could take it really aren't there and it's I'm glad he didn't go into a I think I'm going to kill myself comedy yes because you could do just reading the words you could imagine this be a kind of jaunty music hall number yeah with a kind of parody sound and this is done very sincerely. And it's a great tune as well. it's really It's really catchy, it really sticks in the head. I love i love the piano work on it. it's It's great, really good. Yeah, and and like you say, very evocative eighty s
00:37:35
Speaker
sound. um You mentioned it's not a jaunty tune, which brings us on to track four, Religion. um Yeah, so the the concept of the song is ah three different characters, I think. One is visited in each verse, and each of which is living their life in one way or another, and then something happens and they find religion.
00:38:03
Speaker
Would you say, Dominic, it Is it clear whether this is tongue in cheek or sincere?
00:38:13
Speaker
right my no I think it's really open. Yeah, I think it could take it either way. People who have really varying views on what it's about. Probably going to depend on your own views of religion. yeah i love...
00:38:28
Speaker
it when Bernie Taupin paints characters. and I know I slagged off the creation some of the characters on Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, but I've really praised Don't Shoot Me, I'm Only the Piano Player, where you've got loads different people. And I miss that on a lot of the latter-day Elton records. And i would count this even as ah you know the start of the latter-day.
00:38:53
Speaker
ah And I love that we've got something that isn't in the first person. I love that we're seeing, you know, this is the kind of Bernie Taupin lyric that I think he really does very, very well. And yeah. like My favourite few lines here are in second verse, he got drunk, but he don't remember that he'd been drinking in a bar downtown when he thought he heard a choir of angels singing in the Tiki Lounge. a big What a lovely image that is. um Yeah. I, um...
00:39:28
Speaker
I've got really mixed feelings on this song. In a sense, it's quite clever. And you've got, like you say, you've got these vivid descriptions of these different characters.
00:39:39
Speaker
um I think
Interpretation of 'Crystal' and 'Kiss the Bride'
00:39:40
Speaker
possibly having heard Elton's previous songs talking about religion and God, it comes across that he's not a fan. And and so I'm carrying that forward and thinking, oh, you're singing this in quite a smarmy way then. That's my interpretation of it. I'm not saying that's right.
00:40:02
Speaker
But through that lens, I find it quite difficult to enjoy the song. And to be honest, I probably find it quite difficult to enjoy it if it was being done in an evangelical way as well, as saying, oh, look at how religion has brought salvation to these three lost characters.
00:40:21
Speaker
um And i think there's still something to be said the song. it's you know It's quite catchy. It's is is it's painted vividly, but it it just doesn't quite sit right for me. Not not ah not in a problematic way. If I never heard it again, I wouldn't be too sad. Off the top of my head, I can think of two songs.
00:40:47
Speaker
Christian God songs. By Christian God, I mean not Valhalla off of Empty Sky. So I can think of the song, I think it's called God, which is off of 2133, I think. Dear God.
00:41:00
Speaker
Yeah, Dear God, yeah which was very earnest. It followed the Isn't Cocaine Bad song. And... White Lady White Powder. Yeah. And then the other one, there I can't remember what it's called, but there's a religion one on... If there's a God in Heaven, what's he waiting for? yeah. So of those three, um God versus God, the Elton religion battle... I would say that this is my favourite. And I would say, and I can't believe that, you know, we always pitch ourselves as you're the music man and I'm the word man. yeah It's the that the tune and the production. It's great. It's really... And in a sense, I can't believe I'm saying it. I've drunk too much of the Elton John alcohol-free booze to making me merry. I kind of like... The words...
00:41:51
Speaker
I don't think they're the greatest, but i I'm fine with them, though. I think they're good. i think they're coming in. But I think the tune is great. Maybe I just love it because it's a bit of jauntiness after three. Because I'm Still Standing is celebratory, but from a point of suffering. And, yeah, I think that it's a good...
00:42:13
Speaker
it's a good song at this moment in the album. And if we're doing, if we're following your theory of the alternating voices, then um it's it's religion that is making the second speaker still standing. Whereas our first character is struggling to get to sleep, is putting the cat out early. And despite going to Montserrat or somewhere in the Caribbean is is still not very happy. Well, let's see if the theme continues.
00:42:42
Speaker
I guess that's why they call it the blues. Oh, my word. I suppose. Ten out of ten out of ten. What a song, Anthony. I'm so glad to hear you say that.
00:42:53
Speaker
Did you think, cause I'm a bit of a love song, did you think? um Why do you think I might not like it? Well, it's, I mean, it's basically, mean, lyrically, it's not complex.
00:43:05
Speaker
It's... whilst it's not just saying, oh, I love you, oh, I love you, oh, I love you, it's not hugely specific, is it? It's basically saying, I miss the person I love. Oh, I think it is. Bring up the words. Bring up the words. I call to the stand, exhibit B. I think that it's...
00:43:24
Speaker
Words are comparable in quality and tone to your song. I think um they're really direct and really heartfelt.
00:43:36
Speaker
ah Really yeah stare into space, picture my face in your hands, live for each second without hesitation, never forget I'm your man. Wait on me, girl.
00:43:50
Speaker
Cry in the night if it helps. But more than ever, I simply love you more than I love life itself. Oh, I'm i'm completely sold on that. Completely sold. But again, like religion, what helps is it's a story.
00:44:04
Speaker
storming tune. What a melody, what a guitar, everything about it. I really think it is up there with the very, very best. yeah from From the very best of Elton John a double album compilation that was but both of our sort of early influences for elton Elton's music, I had the accompanying piano music and this was by far my favourite to play. Just really, like you say, really uplifting, upbeat um and yeah, it's it's it's a great sentiment, isn't it, really?
00:44:43
Speaker
um And yeah, i it's it's one of my favourite album songs. A lot of his hits I've almost worn out in in my sort of emotional locker, that makes sense, or enjoyment locker. Like, I'd much rather listen to a B-side or an album track than listening to Rocketman, for example. I just think I've heard Rocketman so many times.
00:45:11
Speaker
I need to go quite a long time without listening to it. But this song, I... ah can never think of a time where I think, oh, turn that off.
Critique of 'Whipping Boy' and Analysis of 'Saint'
00:45:21
Speaker
I've heard that enough.
00:45:22
Speaker
It's, yeah, it just does it. Really... really excellent music video, which I watched for the first time just a couple of hours ago. It's got some 1950s rock and roll dancing going on, but it's also intercut with black and white footage of a guy joining the army and going off and he's doing all the army training and he's like really missing his girlfriend and he's crying and, you know, in a sort of
00:45:53
Speaker
let's combat toxic masculinity. right it's quite naive He comes across as quite vulnerable. It doesn't come across as vilifying the army or celebrating it. It's just it's showing a situation of a man missing the woman whom he loves. And it's a brilliant video. Elton's a bit glammed up playing the piano as well, looking quite, quite, yeah, it's, oh, stunning, stunning, stunning, stunning. Mary J. Blige sings it well, doesn't she? Oh,
00:46:25
Speaker
That's the highlight of that, um, what's it called one night only uh live at madison square gardens recorded 2000 i think it is um yeah fantastic and and it's not out of um partisan loyalty to elton but i generally prefer him singing his songs and him performing his songs to others and that is i mean that album is that live performance is great for that because you've got so many people who bring a a different spin to those tracks but yeah she's the highlight of I'm not mad keen on her songs you know she's someone and whenever I hear her do a cover version I wish she did this all the time is it her I'm so ignorant now is it her who sang the song deep inside that samples Benny and the Jets no idea sorry wrong person to ask
00:47:16
Speaker
stick out up look it up deep inside. it's it's It's not bad song, Deep Inside, but I mean it would be nothing without the... Oh, there you go! 1999.
00:47:29
Speaker
A year before that before that concert. There we go. It all makes sense. But yeah, that's ah that's a great version of the song. I mean, it's with Elton and the band as well. um This was the first single since Someone Saved My Life tonight in 1975 to feature the classic Elton John band lineup.
00:47:51
Speaker
lineup um it held at number two for four weeks on the adult contemporary charts and number four on the billboard hot 100 in the us also reached the top 10 in five countries including the uk where it peaked at number five um we mentioned the live version with mary j blige we haven't mentioned the live version with luciano pavarotti in 1996 in verona part of the Pavarotti and Friends for War Child Benefits. Was that the same record that Live Like Horses was on?
00:48:26
Speaker
One would hope, just because i can't I can't bear to think of too much Elton and Pavarotti. Yeah, I'm looking forward to talking about Live Like Horses and Pavarotti. Also been covered by James Blunt and released in the UK on the compilation album BBC Radio 2 Sounds of the in 2014.
00:48:44
Speaker
in twenty fourteen For me, the best cover of this is by someone simply called Melanie. um And it's ah it's a country version. But yeah, lots of countries it did very well. We've not mentioned South Africa, region number four, number three in Luxembourg. But yeah, definitely a well-received song. Can't remember which one, but there's an episode of Family Guy that...
00:49:11
Speaker
controversial animated series for adults that has this song on and it is brilliant i can't remember what peter griffin's sad about but it plays quite a lengthy sample and it really stands out in all the silliness it's like oh yeah what a great song yeah great song four minutes 41 of excellence including stevie wonder's harmonica solo which i I think it's banging. um Unfortunately, from my point of view, 24 seconds longer than that, coming in at five minutes and five is Crystal.
00:49:48
Speaker
Oh, it's so close for me. It's so close to being a really good song. I think the sound is is great. It's... some It's not a million miles away from Too Low for Zero in terms of the echoey ATZ sort of... um Who did you reference? Gary Newman. Gary Newman, yeah.
00:50:09
Speaker
Gary Newman and also... Some of the early Eurythmics, before they went really poppy with their more Motown, everything, the kind of sweet dreams are made of this era with songs like This Is The House have this kind of sound. No, no, no, I'm ready to rage. We promise people that you and I will rage over the music. I love Crystal. love Love it. So I think...
00:50:33
Speaker
Quite clever to come up with or to use the name Crystal, often used for, not say often, sometimes used as a name for girls, for women. um think there's some distant relative I've got that was called Crystal. And talking about her being brittle or you've got to protect a handler with care. Yeah, very clever.
00:50:56
Speaker
However, i just don't I just don't believe it as a name in this song. and And I know there are people called Crystal. Is it not about the drugs? Oh, okay. Okay.
00:51:08
Speaker
I want to...
00:51:19
Speaker
Well, to take your, you know, anyone can have their own interpretation. I just i just took it as a person. say Say more. Say more about drugs.
00:51:32
Speaker
I might be wrong. no, no. I'm sure you're right. Yeah. I think that it is. Yeah. Don't hurt little Crystal, though, i'm in the chorus.
00:51:47
Speaker
self self-harm self-harm is how I read that yeah I mean it's it's surely a strong possibility have you done your have you done your homework and seen what other people say about this is this is this the consensus that it's about oh I have done my homework and it's not the consensus it's just very much a Dominic okay no no no and yeah yeah I mean that would that would Be clever. But okay, so i've I've not been listening through that lens, that earpiece.
00:52:18
Speaker
I've just been listening and and thinking it's a person. And musically, I think it's great. And the sentiment, if it is a person, I think is great. but But the name Crystal for me, just I can't hear past it.
00:52:30
Speaker
I've mentioned before that every Wednesday I see a group of friends online and we have a listening party where we discuss a record. And one of my dear friends, she cannot get over any song with any person's name in. So Daniel, she wouldn't like Daniel. yeah i saw that he's just It just pulls me too much. since It's too specific. and yeah But I mean, i don't know. I just... i just i I don't know I thought.
00:52:56
Speaker
Oh, no, no, there's a lot that that works for a drug reference. We're caught up in a web since Crystal came between us. um Not so friendships seem to be untied. In the long run, she's the one who must decide if she leaves me... Handle her with care, so do you know? Yeah, yeah. yeah um You're stronger than me, but I'm sure that the fight would fall to no one. The cold-hearted truth is stronger than us all.
00:53:25
Speaker
Yeah, being captives in our separate cells, another prison theme from Bernie. You tell he's back,
Debate on 'One More Arrow' and Album Coherence
00:53:30
Speaker
he's writing about his prisoners again. And without her, there's no peace behind these bars. I mean, it does work 90% of the time for a drug. There's a couple of bits where I'm going, hmm, not sure, but yeah.
00:53:43
Speaker
But musically, I think it's great. I think it's super catchy and it, it you know... Apart from the... did did it do do do a Bit at the end on the... Did you hear that? I'm all right with that. yeah Yeah. You just don't like sound effects, do you? I don't usually. Yeah, yeah. Yeah, yeah. Yeah. Oh, goodness me. Goodness me.
00:54:03
Speaker
what What could be possibly worse than than a faux pas of not recognising that Crystal is about drugs? Yeah. Well, how about at Elton's wedding a year after this um this album, Too Low for Zero, was released, um some people came along. It was in Australia he got married um and they started playing Kiss the Bride, which Elton in his autobiography comments as being quite an inappropriate choice to play at somebody's wedding because it's not really about celebrating the happy couple, is it? When I was a very little boy, I loved the song Kiss the Bride. And this is long before the very Best of Out John. it It breaks my heart that this isn't on every single Best of Out John and it isn't held in the same high esteem as the other
00:54:58
Speaker
to lead singles because it should be. It should be. On Diamonds, it's relegated to third disc if you get the one with extras. At least it's on there.
00:55:09
Speaker
It's storming. It's storming. Again, watch the video for the first time today. Oh my gosh, Elton John is really in full showman. Not since Ego has he been so full of showman-like charisma. ah But as a little boy,
00:55:25
Speaker
who knew this from it being regularly on the radio, you're talking about interpretation of lyrics. Well, little boy Dominic couldn't have got this more wrong. Little little boy Dominic used to dance around saying, um I want to kiss my wife. Yeah.
00:55:42
Speaker
That's like the complete opposite. me I want to kiss my wife. I'm sure if you substitute that that, the rest of the song could...
00:55:55
Speaker
But yeah, it's, um, we, um, oh, i my memory is failing me here, but there was a, a song many albums ago that we were saying, oh, can't really get behind that. Maybe it was part-time love. Oh, it was part-time love. We were saying, it's really catchy. Musically, it's great.
00:56:15
Speaker
However, the concept behind the lyric is one that is very difficult to get behind. The fact that, oh, everyone's just, you know, infidelity is just commonplace. Whereas this just stays on the right side of that. I'm glad you said that. I thought you were going to like put it in the same camp. No, no, no. I would say that it's a really relatable thing.
00:56:40
Speaker
And it's storming production, especially after Crystal coming in with like Quarantine, stunning guitar, so catchy, so well produced.
00:56:52
Speaker
It might just be a single, yeah, but that, I wanna kiss the bride, yeah, oh, it's so good, it's so good. What melody, what tune, what a lyric.
00:57:04
Speaker
um I'm a really big fan of when people twist words grammatically, so they absolutely don't, rhyming his wife and the things we did,
00:57:17
Speaker
Well, I thought it, but I kept it hid. I love that. I love it. I kept it hid. I love it. I love it. I mean, the bye, bye, bye bit doesn't sound like that at all.
00:57:31
Speaker
But that is done in a similar way to the I'm Still Standing Yeah, Yeah, Yeah. Like, it's so from the same album and the same era and the same style, isn't it? And they're both...
00:57:44
Speaker
quite heavy pop songs if I could say that I wouldn't say either I'm Still Standing or Kiss the Bride are rock songs they're just really heavy pop songs and and it works perfectly um neither are songs that you want to play on the piano I have to say and and That's not a criticism. That's just saying they're from a different ballpark. And the fact that we've got very few musicians on the album other than the band. The band's back. Bernie's back.
00:58:20
Speaker
And Elton's performing really well. So on the Two Rooms tribute album, you've got Jon Bon Jovi covering Leave On. I can very much imagine a Bon Jovi cover of Kiss the Bride. And I wish, I've said before, I wish that that record had more 80s stuff. All it's got is Sacrifice by Sinead O'Connor. and Kiss the Bride by Bon Jovi. I want i want to hear that happen. but It's a hair's breadth from being a hard rock song. That electric guitar is so good. Yeah. I don't know whether I've over-searched for cover versions on my computer and my search engine is just not showing me them anymore, but I couldn't find any. for Kiss the Bride at all. and But it was generally well received. um Third single released from the album. It was a top 40 hit in many countries. Number 20 in the UK. 25 in the US Billboard Hot 100. 25 in Australia. 37 in Canada.
00:59:22
Speaker
17 in Ireland. 32 in New Zealand. Yeah. And as I say, I remember it being played on the radio. And it's interesting that the otherwise chronological very best developed, John...
00:59:32
Speaker
it leaves it to a few songs time. Like it doesn't immediately follow I'm Still Standing. And I guess that's why they call it. It goes on to other stuff. And then it goes back to that, you know, interestingly to sort of spread out the hits in the leaner period. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Which is how a lot of...
00:59:53
Speaker
pop albums are done, aren't they? I remember in my teens, I'd sort of listened to, i don't know, a Savage Garden hit and think, oh, so oh maybe I'm going to really like them. And you buy the album and, you know...
01:00:07
Speaker
three songs that you've already heard ah great and they're tracks one, five and ten and then the rest is sort of fair to middling. Sorry Savage Garden but that was my experience. But I'd say that's quite common isn't it yeah for pop groups. um Okay, we've been more or less agreeing with things. I don't know what Dominic thinks of track eight.
01:00:29
Speaker
Whipping Boy. Again, it's got quite a distinctive sound, hasn't it? um It's not one that's resonating with me or doing anything to make me want to keep listening to it, would say.
01:00:44
Speaker
I think
Final Album Scoring and Rankings
01:00:45
Speaker
that the album's earned a lot of goodwill with me because I've enjoyed it so much. So I'm happy to coast along with Whipping Boy. If this was track one, i would be far harsher on it.
01:01:01
Speaker
I think that what you described with Savage Cards, and yeah, this is what one of those songs. I think that the words are fairly...
01:01:13
Speaker
general until until it kind of suggests some horrible age difference. You're dirty, but you're worth it. You're way, way too young. I could do time if they found out.
01:01:31
Speaker
Look out, San Quentin. Here I come. You know, we've all been there. And you're going, uh, burning? And that's, it's one of those lyrics where that's kind of hidden away at the end because the opening, uh, stanzas are quite general, actually. They're, they're, they're not, they're not. So yeah, it's, um, I guess you could argue if you're being very generous, you could argue that in a Goodbye Yellow Brick Road album track way, that it's a character piece that is interesting for not just being a generic scenario.
01:02:08
Speaker
I think that umm I'm fine with it. I'm fine with it. I think that the the track's fairly catchy and the production's fairly good. and And if memory serves, I think this is the last sort of upbeat one on the record, isn't it? It kind of all goes a bit... Well, or certainly in terms of tempo.
01:02:26
Speaker
Yeah. um Yeah, I'd say there's sort of upbeat sentiment in... in the last two tracks. But, so yeah, in terms of tempo, it is... um Yeah, I mean, I should say, foot cover i'm I'm not insinuating that that Bernie is writing this in an autobiographical way or and indeed that those are his intentions. There's a lot of good couplings of songs. So whereas, like...
01:02:55
Speaker
Too Low for Zero is about not standing and I'm Still Standing is about getting over things. i think this is interesting with Kiss the Bride is about yearning for someone that you think is fantastic. Whereas Whipping Boy is about being with someone who is arguably abusive and definitely not a simple relationship that the lovers want to be together in an unquestioning way.
01:03:24
Speaker
Yeah, so I can appreciate that thematically it fits into the album. Doesn't mean I enjoy listening to it. And musically, I think it's fine.
01:03:36
Speaker
it's It's got a distinctive sound and it's not a bad sound. But um yeah, the the sentiment of the lyrics is just a just a bit of thing. It's the illegal kind of loving that keeps my motor running.
01:03:50
Speaker
LAUGHTER
01:03:53
Speaker
Yeah. Nuff said, it's only three minutes 43. Now, the next track, our penultimate track, Saint. I find this one really interesting. It's five minutes 17 long.
01:04:07
Speaker
And ah don't know about you, Dominic, but when I listen to this, i feel like there's... there's quite a few different sections to this song. You know, if we're if we're thinking about um Kiss the Bride or I Am Still Standing or something like that, it's it's pretty standard in its its setup. It's first chorus, first chorus, and there might be guitar solo in there. and There's not many surprises. It's catchy, brilliant, fantastic stuff. Whereas this, there's there's almost musically...
01:04:40
Speaker
three or four quite different ideas here in terms of how the melody goes, the song structure and and things like that. And it's, some in terms of the lyric and the theme of it as well, it's um open to interpretation.
01:04:57
Speaker
Oh, is it? Oh, well, here's I'm the one who said Crystal was about a drug. yeah I did just think it's about, you know, so we've had two songs about romances not being great. I just thought it was straightforward. Yeah, my lover is the best. But what what's your interpretation?
01:05:17
Speaker
Do you know what? it's I think it's the way that he's he's singing it and the um the sound, it's it's almost a haunting sound, I feel, which maybe it's not that I think it's about something else, but maybe it Maybe alludes to a slightly different context.
01:05:39
Speaker
I don't know. in that if You're right. don't know if this is what you were saying, but you could be singing this about your love interest now, right here, and they're there with you, or but maybe maybe it could be sung retrospectively.
01:05:58
Speaker
by somebody that's that's lost their lover, maybe they're deceased, um or something like that. I just think the the whole tone of the whole piece is quite interesting.
01:06:10
Speaker
and mean We were comparing Kiss the Bride to Harder Rock. I think that as gentle as a lot of this is, I think this isn't 100 miles from stuff like Journey or Heart. It's like, you know, it could be a...
01:06:27
Speaker
big hair, glam metal song. the the you know Again, I could hear Bon Jovi do a version of this. A lot of reviewers hate this song, think it's naff.
01:06:39
Speaker
I think that similar to I Am Your Robot off of Jump Up, I think that it's quite a different sound. And as we get further and further along the chronology of Elton records, less and less often when we hear something where we're like,
01:06:56
Speaker
oh and this is a bit different for Elton. And I think that, yeah I don't think it's his best song. I do think that it's a little bit a little bit different. and And I could imagine this even being a single. Not necessarily a great single, but, you know, there is like I can see why people hate it. I can see why people think it's cheesy. I can see why people think it's saccharine.
01:07:23
Speaker
i i do I do like it. Yeah. Well, it's on the nose, isn't it? Like you say, it's it's evangelical in in almost every sense. um it For me, musically, it's it's got...
01:07:39
Speaker
almost both ends of the extreme in terms of quality in that if you take the penultimate line of say the first verse and you cook much better on a lower flame what's happening to the melody and the chords at the same time is a beautiful beautiful thing the kind of the kind of progression that you get in Mona Lisa's and Mad Hatter's that that sort of thing and the timing of it is lovely and in the chorus they're helping me along for me it's just awful it's du do do it it doesn't it doesn't fit it's all it's almost like he's there's a couple of notes there that don't even fit and it sounds like I'm I'm really picking k nits there but I think when you have the experience of listening to the music in a certain way
01:08:30
Speaker
like it really builds and it gets better and it gets better. And then the chorus, there's just a couple of bits in there where it it just seems to undo all do the good work in terms of the complexity. And it's almost like it's written by different people. um I was comparing it to like Bon Jovi. I mean, like meatloaf. I think it's almost like a meatloaf. It's quite rock opera-y. Yeah. Yeah.
01:08:52
Speaker
Yeah. i I could hear that and I... I think that would actually sound better than the Nelton's version. But like you say, it's different and it's harder and harder for him to do things that are different. So um it deserves a commendation for for that ah alone, if if nothing else.
01:09:11
Speaker
Goodness, we're onto the last track. We're onto the last track. One more arrow. I look like Robert Mitchum. No. And look like Robert Mitchum. He said, I want to grow up and look like Robert Mitchum. Do you know Robert Mitchum is? Nope.
01:09:27
Speaker
I have no idea. Shall we Google him? Yeah. He makes those deodorants, doesn't he? American actor and singer. Oh. He looks like a handsome chap. Yeah.
01:09:37
Speaker
There we are. So that's why when we grow up, we want to look like Robert Mitchum. What do you make of this song, Dominic? would not want a whole album of this as the last song. I think it's really emotional and I think that...
01:10:02
Speaker
bookending the record with Cold As Christmas and One More Arrow. It's really heartfelt. It's really, it's a really, really great song.
01:10:14
Speaker
What do you think?
01:10:18
Speaker
For me, it it follows on from Saint quite well in that I also think that this one could be brilliant.
01:10:30
Speaker
And then it's just musically, there's just a couple of bits that just feel a bit weird that I've often praised Elton for his delivery of lines.
01:10:41
Speaker
I'm saying this like I'm anything to compare to Elton. Of course, he's far superior to me musically, but... where he delivers a line in, in quite ah an offbeat way. And it sounds really genuine for it, but there's a, a bit where he's, it's it's that, and he's one more arrow flying through the air, one more arrow, like landing in a shady spot somewhere.
01:11:06
Speaker
He goes completely off the the rhythm and, and it's with the, the falsetto singing. that and And to me, it sounds really bad. Um, And most of the track, I think, musically sounds great. And the sentiment of the whole song is lovely and powerful, like you say.
01:11:24
Speaker
um But there's just a few little bits that jar, like the helping me along in the last track, that just kind of take me out of the reverie and the the image it creates. So for me, this one, like Saint, is a so near yet so far, I would say.
01:11:44
Speaker
Yeah. I see why they had it as the last track. They often go for quite a slow, deep, meaningful thing to finish an album, don't they? I'd say more often it's that rather than check it out.
01:12:01
Speaker
I love that. I guess I grew up with records by Genesis and Pink Floyd and many prog rock or experimental 70s albums have...
01:12:17
Speaker
Yeah, I would rather that than something generic. I don't have the same... i'm not I'm not repulsed by it in the way that you are, I kind of think. Yeah, I'm not listing it as my favourite songs ever. I mean...
01:12:33
Speaker
where I have a strong feeling towards it, it's it's just temporary. Yeah. You know, I'd say the track as a whole, I think is decent, but I think without those jarring bits that just, maybe it's just a, for me personally, you know, listeners might be going, what are you talking about? The whole track's genius, but they just take me out of it enough. In the same way, you know, your song, fantastic composition, fantastic lyric. If there were are a couple of bits in there that jarred, it would affect the whole thing. Yeah, it would. ah I prefer the song The Fox, the closing song of The Fox. And I also feel like thematically, this is a little bit of a leap and I'm a little bit of disappointed like lyrically.
01:13:19
Speaker
i I guess ending with a death is a good way to end an album. There's a finality to death that makes it strong, but there's not really anything about mortality elsewhere on the record. yeah So it kind of comes out of nowhere, as death often does, but I don't feel that...
01:13:40
Speaker
yeah Again, I'm clambering for making it a concept record where no one's ever said it should or could be. Oh, but there's so much tying it together. there's so much that time yeah does tie it together. so yeah It's like when you're writing a composition you know you know in year five at school, yeah you know when you're nine, ten years old, and then the teacher says you've got five minutes left and you just have to hastily go, and then then they died.
01:14:06
Speaker
yeah He woke up, it was all a dream. um But yeah, I'm perhaps being harsh there. So those are the 10 tracks that were on the original release. It's been a few albums since we've had bonus tracks in re-releases, but this one was re-released by Mercury in 1998. And we've got three more tracks.
01:14:28
Speaker
Yeah. but I don't know any of them. Oh, do you not? Oh, like I mean... I think you would really like all of them. Okay. the ah Dreamboat is dangerously close to Dixie Lily. So I might retract that statement. But Earn While You Learn, I think one of your most recent 10 out of 10s before we looked the Fox was the instrumental tracks on Blue Moves. Oh, yeah. And this is an instrumental track. Oh, super. Which is why Elton has said it was written by Lord Chock Ice, which is just a pseudonym for himself. And the retreat could feature on Tumbleweed Connection, I would say. Oh, okay. It's of that ilk. Dreamboat is my favourite because it's quite a jonte. I'm glad that there isn't any country effort on that. That sets this apart because there's usually like a Tumbleweed throwback moment. Yeah. Well, particularly with Bernie making comeback, you know, you would have thought that could be his signature. Yeah.
01:15:35
Speaker
But I guess you could argue, just to go back to the finality of the final song, I guess you could argue that, oh, does it, this is a stretch, this is me really looking for, that does it put scenarios like Kiss the Bride and Cold Christmas in a different context where you think, oh, you know, well, does anything matter? We're only on this earth for a finite length of time. Does it contextualise those scenarios?
01:16:02
Speaker
but But I'm stretching there. I'm stretching. And there's like say there's nothing really building. I would have loved it. I really felt, I said this at the time, that The Fox, with its completely unconnected lyric writers, in my opinion, i followed the flow. And I felt that The Fox, as an enigmatic, engaging, enthralling lyric, really brought everything together in a way i found rewarding rewarding.
01:16:31
Speaker
It's almost there. It's almost there. Yeah. With this one. Almost there, but not quite. We could visit some a long list of Elton songs and see what we might swap in for that final track. A lot of people put this album, Two Low For Zero, in the same category as...
01:16:51
Speaker
um the 70s heyday they're like it's as good in a lot of people because I've looked at numerous lists people have done ranking and this is often top 10 and I don't know if it will be i I but I like how we do this that we just judge each song so if you said and I've not given my scores yet even to myself I don't know what they're going to be if you said do you like this as much as the Fox I would say no I like the Fox world, but who knows? let's Let's actually score it. Let's do it. Yes, indeed. Let's rate the tracks. Okay, so we're going to score each track out of 10 for new listeners.
01:17:31
Speaker
Cold as Christmas. What are you going for, Dominic? No, want you to go first on that. Oh, see, like Dominic, I am doing these scores off the cuff.
01:17:42
Speaker
it right Okay, eight, nine, ten.
01:17:45
Speaker
nine Okay, next one's easy. I'm still standing. Ten. Yeah. I know my tens for this album are very easy and probably quite easy for folk to predict. Too low for zero. I'm going to go for seven and that is harsh.
01:18:04
Speaker
Nine. Religion. o Six. I'm erring on the side of being harsh here, which I don't like. Eight. Eight for religion.
01:18:15
Speaker
Guess that's why they call it the blues. Yeah. Crystal, is it about a person? Is it about meth? um i'm Okay, so I've been erring on the side of being harsh.
01:18:27
Speaker
I'm going to give it a seven because it is just the name. If it if it was a different name, I'd go for nine. Eight. Eight for Dominic. Kiss the bride. Ten. Same for me. Oh, I'm really glad. Really glad.
01:18:42
Speaker
Whipping boy. More problematic the more and more read the lyrics. I'm afraid this is going to drag it down. I've got to give it four. It's not in the same category as many of the fives I've given.
01:18:56
Speaker
Right, I need to scroll up, have a look at some of my other, just scroll up a bit. Yeah, seven. Seven. Seven for whipping boy, that illegal love. Saint, again, I've been harsh with a few, so i will give this ah seven as well.
01:19:13
Speaker
Yeah, seven. Yeah. And one more arrow. I will also give that a seven. Eight. Eight. Okay, so just in terms of the tracks, my average is 7.6, which puts it in fifth place.
01:19:35
Speaker
Not bad at all. Dominic's average, 8.6, which puts it in seventh place. It's doing well, Dominic. It's in the top 10 so far, but regular listeners will know we don't just rate the tracks. so Album name.
01:19:55
Speaker
I'm going to say it does what it says on the tin. I'm going to say eight Ten. Woohoo! Outrageous. a I don't think you're going to give ten for the artwork. Oh, I really... No, I'm not. I don't know, though. i do...
01:20:13
Speaker
I dislike it, but I think it really fits the title and album well. I think it does about... You said that you often choose or chose to buy records based on how many hits there were. I was put off of this record by the artwork, I do think it's good. I'm to give it a five.
01:20:32
Speaker
Okay, I'm going to give it an eight. because I think it's bold and it does does what it should do. um But yeah, it's definitely not a Captain Fantastic or a Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.
01:20:46
Speaker
Cover versions, surprisingly few. I'm gonna give it a slightly harsh five. no do you know what? Mary J. Blige, I'm giving it six. I generally follow your leads for this. and what did What have I given the same six? Yeah.
01:21:03
Speaker
Okay, lyrics. So there are 10 tracks, so I'm going to rate it based on if I had to say just yes or no. think so So Cold's Christmas, yes.
01:21:14
Speaker
Standing, yes. Zero, yes. Religion, yes. ah Blues, yes. Crystal, I'm going be harsh and say no. Kiss the bride, yes. Whipping boy, no. Say no.
01:21:26
Speaker
Arrow, yes. Seven. Seven. I like your system. If only we'd done this from the start. Oh, and we've probably kissed the bride.
01:21:37
Speaker
Let's hope that doesn't trigger some sort of copyright. it I think not. um Yeah, okay I'll go seven as well. Because some of the lyrics are fantastic. I mean, I think in some ways seven's quite harsh, but, you know...
01:21:52
Speaker
yeah i'm gonna go really quite high for music and give it a nine um and it's not far off a 10 it's just a few bits that jarred yeah nine flop dodge does it dodge flops um for me whipping boy is a flop and religion is dangerously close but i think generally it does well so i will say an eight seven And finally, hits. Are you going to use the same system? Well, might do actually. Let's just see. ah
01:22:26
Speaker
I'm going to say that, yeah, same whipping boy. oh no, Crystal is a hit. I'm going to give it an eight for hits. I'm going to go... I'm gonna go six.
01:22:38
Speaker
Which is harsh in a sense because I've given three 10 out of 10s there. But the only thing that comes close to that is Cold at Christmas, which I gave eight. So there we go. So...
01:22:51
Speaker
Final scores are in. 77.25% is the score. Where does that put it? Well, it puts it less than the Fox, so I'm glad about that. I really want it. to be sent soen Higher than a single man.
01:23:06
Speaker
Higher than Rock of the Westies. What? Higher than Goodbye Yellow Brick Road. Oh, we've got a tie, Dominic. With Honk Honky Chateau. Honky also 77.25. So as things currently stand, that is equal sixth.
01:23:25
Speaker
Wow. Wow. Wow. You seem surprised that it's that high? Yeah. But it is good. I mean, you know, I don't think the whipping boy and...
01:23:35
Speaker
saint drag it down in the same way that I'm really pulled out the experience by Jamaica Jerkoff or Blue Eyes. I think that's it. I think that's it. it's the The bad stuff isn't awful.
01:23:49
Speaker
Whereas we've we've covered albums where some of the bad stuff is really... but I mean, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road is a prime example of that, isn't it? I think so, yeah. I believe we've had a tie. What's that going to do to my Canva art?
01:24:03
Speaker
Ha ha ha!
01:24:06
Speaker
I've only just set that up. I've got to reformat the whole thing.
01:24:12
Speaker
no No, it's good. Well, I mean, I'm going to say, I'm going to say I dragged that up because that was that was considerably high for me. It's 7.6.
01:24:23
Speaker
Yeah, fifth. My fifth highest one. but What was Fox for you? One. Is it? Yeah, yeah, yeah. All right. Fair play. Goodness me, goodness me, we did not expect that. oh Are we going have
Preview of Next Album Review
01:24:39
Speaker
another shock in the next episode, Dominic? which Which album are we reviewing? Well, at time of recourse,
01:24:47
Speaker
yet listened to breaking hearts that is the album which came out june 1984 containing the single passengers on the very rest of our john love love love love love why isn't that song uh more highly acclaimed even brian adams cannot save my dislike of sad songs say so much which i will never understand the place that whole Elton John performed it live when I saw it's a load of nonsense Anthony I'll be scoring it live yeah it's going to be an interesting one Breaking Hearts
01:25:27
Speaker
It's going to be an interesting... don't know any of the other songs. To my knowledge, I know there were other singles. I don't think I've heard them. So I shall give it, you know, every record I think, what if this was the debut album by someone? Try and listen just with fresh ears. Yeah. Yeah, I'm looking forward to doing so. And
Audience Engagement Strategies
01:25:46
Speaker
released a month after Elton's famous day out at Wembley at the FA Cup final where he's crying during Abide With Me. Historical moment in Elton's life, particularly if you're a football fan like myself. um We're very insecure on this podcast and we're terrified that you're not going to come back. So that is why we dangle trivia questions in front of you at the end of an episode.
01:26:10
Speaker
for which we'll release the answer at the start of the next one. Today's question, what was special about the original Too Low for Zero record when it came out? The last teaser trivia question was arguably relatively easy, um unless you didn't think it was a trick question, when I was asking you about Tim Rice.
01:26:32
Speaker
This one is really hard. So if you want a clue, here it comes. If you don't want a clue, just skip ahead by 15 seconds. Your clue is, is to do with how it's physically presented. So there's something special about Two Loafers Zero, the original record when it came out.
01:26:50
Speaker
What is different? you have any inclination at all? The album wasn't made out vinyl. It's solidified crystal metal.
01:26:59
Speaker
It was far, far too young. No, no idea. No idea
Listener Gratitude and Contact Information
01:27:06
Speaker
at all. What do have an idea about is how grateful I am that everyone who has listened has listened to us.
01:27:13
Speaker
Anthony and I really enjoy recording these and it's been fabulous for us to do an in-person one with our zero hour alcohol drink, which we've had. We should, we should, he's even got his signature on the cork. That is well good.
01:27:28
Speaker
What time. What time. Please do get in touch with us via email elton v elton pod at at gmail.com. If you want know more about me, check out my website, dominicberry.net. You can find Ant on two other podcasts, Enough of the Falafel. There's a Vegan Week and Vegan Talk episode out each week. There's also the Brambling Along podcast.
01:27:52
Speaker
Until next time, it is goodbye from me, Captain Colder's Christmas Dontastic, and him, the brown dirt... Crystal boy. Crystal boy!
01:28:04
Speaker
Goodbye! Goodbye.
Credits and Acknowledgments
01:28:13
Speaker
This podcast is hosted by Zencaster. We've used some sound effects from zapsplap.com. We've taken information from songfacts.com as well as sireltonjohn.fandom.com, the wiki. And I'd also really personally recommend you read Elton's autobiography, which is called Me. I listened to the audio version. It's narrated by Taron Egerton, which is excellent. We're indebted to all those who've helped create and share Elton's music. And thanks again to James Cook and Paul Savage, who inspired the format of this show.